Spend spring working so you can enjoy summer

Spring is the best time to begin those outdoor projects. Save summer for enjoying your deck or patio.

Is your wooden gate sagging or sticking? The repair is usually pretty easy.

First check the hinges. Loose screws should be tightened or replaced with longer ones that are a slightly larger diameter.

Wooden gates usually have a brace that rises diagonally from the top on the latch side to the bottom on the hinge side. Once the brace shrinks it allows the gate to sag.

Once sagging occurs we suggest using a cable brace with a turnbuckle. Such kits sell for about $10 to $15 and can be installed in about a half-hour.

Keep in mind that, even though a cable brace is installed diagonally, it is placed in the opposite direction of an existing wood brace. A cable brace is connected at the top on the hinged side and on the bottom at the hardware side.

If you have an asphalt driveway where bare stones show, now’s the time to reseal it. You can hire the job out very inexpensively, or do it yourself with sealer that costs $25 to $40 for a bucket that covers 300 to 350 square feet.

The process is reasonably easy. First, pressure wash the surface to get it as clean as possible. Buy enough sealer to do at least two coats.

Use a long squeegee on a broom handle to spread the sealer evenly over the pavement. When the job is done the squeegee will be too. By the way, this project should be done in shoes and jeans that are already goners.

Is your wood deck or patio furniture looking a bit shabby? It may be deck cleaning/sealing time. Follow these steps and it will be easy.

First, scrub the deck with soap and water and a bristle brush on a broomstick. The detergent will loosen the surface dirt. Next, use a pressure washer to rinse away the soap.

Finally, wait a day for the deck to dry and then add a coat of sealer. Use a roller to apply the sealer or sealer/stain and wipe off the excess with a clean dry rag.

This is a good time to have your air conditioner serviced. Once it gets hot a service call is going to cost you a fortune. If the system breaks down midsummer forget about a same-day service call.

Be sure to install a new filter. If you have allergies be sure to look for a corrugated filter. If you can pour salt through a filter don’t buy it for your home, allergies or not.

Spring is a great time to wash windows. Here are the window washing formulas we use (modified for ambient temperature):

When it’s warm outside, a little white vinegar or 2 tablespoons of alcohol in 16 ounces of warm water will get the job done.

When temperatures start to drop, add 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol to 16 ounces of warm water; then add 1 teaspoon of cornstarch for a super-duper cold weather cleaner.

No matter the type of exterior siding you have, after a long winter’s wear, it probably needs a good cleaning. One of the best means of brightening dingy siding is with a pressure washing.

If the siding is chalked or streaked, scrub it using a nylon truck brush along with a mild solution of powdered laundry detergent and hot water.

Rinse thoroughly with fresh water. Check for cracks, peeling paint, missing or damaged mortar and caulking.

Spring is a good time to caulk around window trim and door frames, especially if you missed doing it in the fall. The caulking that insures a watertight exterior can take a real beating in winter. Do this after you have washed the exterior siding.

If your driveway or carport looks like an Indy 500 pit stop, a good cleaning is in order. Clean and degrease exterior concrete surfaces with a commercial concrete cleaner-degreaser. Use cat litter to absorb as much of the grease or oil first by grinding it into the area with the soles of your shoes.

Dispose of the oil-tainted cat litter as you would paint, used motor oil or other household toxic substances.

Safety repairs are smart any time of year. Electrical repairs can prevent a potential for a house fire.

Consider rerouting hanging electrical wiring outside the house and in the garage. Reroute the wires into locations where the wiring is safely concealed and protected from abrasion, stretching or cuts.

While you’re at it make sure that the wiring isn’t frayed, cracked or otherwise damaged.

For tips from James and Morris Carey, go to www.onthehouse.com or call the listener hot line, 800-737-2474, ext. 59. The Careys are also on KRKO (1380-AM) from 6 to 10 a.m. every Saturday.